Grungy grout

Heloise

Household Hints

Dear Heloise: My kitchen has tiled countertops, which I hate, but replacing it won’t be an option until my son graduates from college. I read that you should never use bleach or vinegar on the tile and grout, so how do I clean my tiled kitchen countertops? — Andrea R., Corbin, Kentucky

Andrea, use sudsy ammonia and water. Half a cup of ammonia to one gallon of water should do the trick. Over time, bleach and even vinegar will eat away at the grout. —

Cherry craving

Dear Heloise: My husband went wild over your Cherry Surprise. He absolutely loves maraschino cherries, so your recipe was a huge success with both him and my mother-in-law. I made it again and took it to a church social where we were raising money for a family in need. It sold for $18, and guess who bought it? My husband!

I have misplaced the recipe and would love to make it again. Would you reprint it for all the cherry lovers out there? — Maggie D., Bayonne, New Jersey

Maggie, just like your husband, my husband loves this dessert as well. Here it is:

Cream together two sticks of butter or margarine and 2 cups of sugar. Beat three eggs and add to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons almond extract and 1 pint of sour cream. Then add 3 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt, and mix to blend. Last, stir in 1 cup chopped maraschino cherries and 1 ½ cups chopped nuts.

Bake in greased and floured tube pan at 325 degrees for about 1 to 1 ½ hours.

To make the icing, mix together powdered sugar, cherry juice and a drop of vanilla. Mix well and spread on cooled cake.

If you enjoy easy-to-make recipes that are just a little different from everything else you’ve made before, then you’ll love my pam- phlet “Heloise’s Cake Reci- pes.” Why settle for some- thing you’ve made over and over when you can add some- thing new for everyone’s taste buds?

To get a copy, just go to www.heloise.com or send $3 along with a stamped, self-addressed, long enve- lope to Heloise/cakes, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. It’s always nice to have new recipes at your fingertips to change dessert from the usual fare to some- thing surprising. —

Dear Heloise: If there is one dish I love it’s quiche. There are so many ways to change it and still make it tasty and healthy. One of the things I like to do is add finely chopped nuts to the pie crust. Sometimes I’ll add grated cheese to the crust to sort of jazz up the flavor. — Jean-marie, Auburn, Maine

Jean-marie, I like to substi- tute imitation bacon bits for actual bacon. It’s fewer cal- orie and less fat. —

Shopping hungry

Dear Heloise: A word to the wise: Never shop while you are hungry. So many people who go to the gro- cery store will buy more than they need simply because they are hungry. Before you go shopping for groceries, make sure you eat something so you don’t ruin your bud- get or waistline. — Ruth G., Tupelo, Mississippi